There are 2,541 level crossings on 2,959 kilometers of railways across the country. Of these, 961 rail crossings are completely unprotected. There is no gatekeeper or man in these rail crossings. Accidents are constantly being occurred at these risky places.
More than 450 people were killed and about 3,000 others were injured in some 500 accidents at these unprotected rail crossings in last 3 years, according to news data published in different media.
However, it was learnt that most of the guards' jobs are not permanent. They work on a daily wage basis or under a project. Except a few old guards, everyone else hardly has any training or previous experience. As a result, accidents are being occurred due to such negligence.
In many places soil and stones have been removed from base of the railway lines across the country. Moreover, there are old wooden sleepers instead of concrete sleepers in several places. So, train wheels cannot move smoothly and accidents occur.
Experts said there is a lack of monitoring, accountability and sincerity among the authorities concerned. There will be fewer accidents if the problems are solved, they added.
Many passengers said that railway accidents are continuously being occurred although railway is considered as the safest mode of transportations.
It is difficult to ensure safety measures to reduce casualties at rail crossings soon, sources said.
The state-owned transport company Bangladesh Railway carries more than 12 crore 90 lakh passengers a year. Old infrastructure, old railway tracks, bridges, rolling stock, faulty signaling systems etc are mainly blamed for continuous rail accidents.
Narrating the negative sides of railway, professor of Civil Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and an expert on road and transportation infrastructures Dr Shamsul Haque said that construction of overpass-underpass at the crossings is costly. But this is the best solution to get rid of such accidents. Before this the guards should get proper training.
In the meantime, the Bangladesh Railway is going to introduce the Automatic Train Protection System (ATPS) to avert train accidents. Railway Director General of Md Shamsuzzaman said ATPS is important for the safety of trains.
Road Safety Foundation executive director Saidur Rahman said that rail accidents are also on the rise as like as road accidents as most of the rail crossings in the country are unprotected. Accidents are happening because there is no gateman in all these rail crossings. Accidents also occur because gatemen do not perform their duties sincerely. In this case, the railway department has to be more vigilant and make arrangements for recruitment of manpower.
